Landowner threatens to blow up pylons on his land

There were no burning effigies when Transpower came to Morrinsville last night, just open defiance about its pylon plan.

One landowner threatened to blow up any pylons on his land. Another said Transpower would need an army to get them built.

Nearly 300 people sat through the 2-1/2 hour meeting, called by the national power grid owner to discuss its $500 million plan for a 400kV transmission line through the Waikato, with some pylons up to 70m high. Two routes are being considered between Otahuhu and Whakamaru to provide transmission to the Auckland region -- both go past Morrinsville.

The protests were more restrained than those in Tirau and Matamata last week, but some landowners taunted Transpower about its chances of success.

Geoff Ralph, of Tatuanui, said Transpower's choice of route, to be announced in May, wouldn't divide landowners.

"We're all against you," he said. "I don't care what you say or what you do, we're going to beat you."

He urged landowners, who have been fundraising to pay for legal representation, to instead use the money to pay civil disobedience fines.

"I need to know how much concrete there is in the pylons so I can blow it up once you put it there," he told Transpower staff.

Tahuna farmer Lorraine Bilby warned that Transpower would need an army to overcome landowners: "The people in this room will make sure this line never goes through."

"You don't give a damn about us or our children," yelled Warren Davenport, who moved into his new Morrinsville house a month before Transpower announced its plan in October. He said a pylon would be on a neighbour's land only 30m away.

Landowner's fears were heightened by suggestions that the transmission plan could be fast-tracked.

Former National MP Rob Storey warned that legislation going through select committees would amend the Resource Management Act so that a parliamentary committee could decide the outcome -- not local councils.

Transpower senior environmental planner Dougall Campbell acknowledged that the law change would mean Government ministers could "call it in" and make the decision. It would also remove the right to appeal to the Environment Court.

Before the meeting, about 250 people -- most dressed in black -- took part in a mock funeral procession through the main street to the meeting venue at Morrinsville College. Led by pipers and a horse, silent marchers carried a coffin which said "RIP Clean Green New Zealand".

At the meeting, many residents raised concerns about the health effects of pylons. Transpower has invited overseas experts to brief residents at health forums later this month but landowners accused it of handpicking people supportive of the pylons.

It was Transpower's last Waikato meeting until it returns next month to announce the results of research on the possibility of using direct current (DC) instead of AC. DC cables might be easier to underground or if above ground, may use smaller pylons.

- NZPA